Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jamie Macrae.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillors D Brown, H Gaddum, L Gilbert and R Menlove all declared a personal interest in agenda item 9 (Discretionary Enhancement to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme) by virtue of having either a concessionary bus or rail travel pass.  Councillor Rhoda Bailey declared the same interest at the time of the discussion. 

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

In order for an informed answer to be given, where a member of the public wishes to ask a question of a Cabinet Member three clear working days notice must be given and the question must be submitted in writing at the time of notification.  It is not required to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision but, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2012 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To recommend the Terms of Reference to the Council, and also that they be further reviewed in advance of the Board assuming its statutory functions.

Consideration was given to the revised Terms of Reference for the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board, taking into account previous concerns raised in respect of member representation and the voting rights of Board members. 

The initial draft Terms of Reference had been reviewed against those of a number of other Local Authorities and revisions made following an analysis of emerging best practice.  The Leader confirmed that the opposition group would nominate the opposition member on the Board and that he would be happy to abide by their decision.  It was also confirmed that the Terms of Reference would be considered again prior to the Board assuming its statutory functions in April 2013.

RESOLVED

1. That Cabinet and Council support the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board’s Terms of Reference.

1. That Cabinet and Council support the recommendation to further review the Board’s Terms of Reference in advance of the Board assuming its statutory functions, taking account of Board priorities expressed within the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy which will be finalised in the autumn following a period of consultation.

To agree to act as the grant recipient for this project for the development of the bypass.

Consideration was given to acting as the grant recipient and accountable body for the grant of £4m from the Governments Regional Growth Fund for the development of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass by Pochin Developments. 

A report set out the context of the proposal and the benefits of supporting the delivery of the scheme; these included the creation of new business premises and approx 2,800 jobs, environmental improvements arising from traffic being diverted away from Middlewich, and the reduction of congestion on the A54 link to the M6. 

RESOLVED

1. To agree that the Council shall act as the grant recipient for this project and to accept the terms of a conditional grant offer letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), subject to the satisfactory advice of the Borough Solicitor.

2. To delegate authority to the Strategic Director (Places & Organisational Capacity), in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder, to accept the final grant offer letter, subject to the satisfactory advice of the Borough Solicitor and independent Due Diligence advice.

Consideration was given to a report on the progress of this scheme work on which had been ongoing since 2009 to develop the details of its first phase.  The various documents required by the DfT to support the submission of the business case were now complete and ready to submitted by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council as the schemes promoters on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. 

The Strategic Director for Places and Organisational Capacity provided an oral update on the position.  Particular reference was made to redesigned but not yet finalised junction improvements north of Poynton as, ultimately, these would form the first phase of the Poynton Relief Road.  In addition it was reported that a number of off line mitigation measures, on roads in the area where traffic was forecast to increase as a result of the scheme, were also still the subject of continuing discussions.  Cabinet was advised that a meeting was due to be held with the Leader of Stockport Council to discuss these points further and that the funding allocations were due to be considered by Manchester City Council at the meeting of its Cabinet at the end of July. 

Members were asked to amend a key date on page 96 of the agenda to show that the submission of the planning application and publication of the draft Orders would be in Spring 2013, not 2012 as stated.

In view of the ongoing discussions, and the planned meeting with Stockport Council, it was agreed that the report be deferred and brought back to be dealt with at the earliest opportunity and, if necessary, that an urgent or extraordinary cabinet meeting be convened.

RESOLVED

That the report be deferred and brought back to be dealt with at the earliest opportunity and, if necessary, that an urgent or extraordinary Cabinet meeting be convened.

To note the decision of the Joint Waste Management Board on 1 May 2012 and to put in place the necessary arrangements for its replacement.

Cabinet considered a report of the Borough Solicitor advising them that, following the recent decision by both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester Councils to discontinue the Waste PFI Project, the Joint Waste Board had now resolved that the Board be dissolved and that the governance of the remaining joint waste contracts be undertaken by the Portfolio Holders with responsibility for waste in each Council.  The advantage of the new arrangements was that they would significantly reduce the burden on Portfolio time, provide greater flexibility and streamline decision making, and also save on the resources required to run large meetings.

At the meeting it was agreed that the decision requested be expanded to include the Portfolio Holder for Finance as well as the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.  

RESOLVED

That the decision made by the Joint Waste Management Board on 1 May 2012 be noted and that the Portfolio Holders for Environmental Services, Finance, and appropriate Officers, put in place the necessary arrangements to replace the Joint Waste Board.

Councillors D Brown, H Gaddum, L Gilbert and R Menlove all declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of having either concessionary bus or rail passes.  Councillor Rhoda Bailey declared the same interest at the time of the discussion. 

Consideration was given to options for the use of concessionary bus passes on flexible and community transport; recent changes in the provision of such transport within the Borough had highlighted a need for clarity concerning the Council’s adopted policy in the north and south of the Borough. 

Local Authorities are free to enhance their discretionary travel schemes with locally adopted and funded policies and the report detailed the options available along with their respective financial implications. 

Cabinet agreed that it would support option 2.1.2 of the report which would have the impact of allowing entitlement to free transport on any section 19 service.  This would allow all such providers to receive reimbursement of revenues foregone and costs incurred in accepting passengers using concessionary passes, and users of flexible/demand responsive transport across the borough would be able to travel free at the point of use.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to option 2.1.2 of the report, to adopt a policy of admitting section 19 transport provision to the scheme.

The report relating to the remaining item on the agenda has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matter may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

PART 2 – MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS PRESENT

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider the report of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet supports the decision of the Corporate Management Team to release the employees whose roles are listed as 1 to 28 in Appendix A of the report under the arrangements agreed in relation to voluntary severance provisions for employees in the Council.